Bow-eye or lifting-eye, especially for mounting on a boat

ABSTRACT

The specification discloses a bow-eye or lifting-eye structure, especially for mounting on a boat, such as at the bow or on the transom at the stern of the boat and wherein the eye structure comprises a U-bolt having the legs threaded with two nuts on the legs between which a wall of the boat is received when the eye is mounted thereon and, preferably, with load distributing plates interposed between the nuts and the wall of the boat. A particular feature of the present invention is to be found in the construction of the U-bolt so as to be substantially one and the same diameter from end to end whereby reduced diameter sections that can form break off regions when the bolt is stressed are eliminated.

[ BOW-EYE OR LIFTING-EYE, ESPECIALLY FOR MOUNTING ON A BOAT [76]Inventor: Herman L. Gillespie, 2415 Dellwood Dr. Fort Wayne, Ind.

[22] Filed: Feb. 2, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 111,851

[52] US. Cl. 114/218, 114/235 WS [51] Int. Cl B631) 21/04 [58] Field ofSearch 114/235 WS, 218,

114/230; 85/50 R, l R; 285/199; 19/1 T [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,103,005 9/1963 Hills 114/235 WS 3,113,547 12/1963Stewart 114/235 WS 3,142,284 7/1964 Kauffman 114/230 2,693,691 ll/l954Pasanen 85/50 R 3,508,770 4/1970 Cassel 285/199 X 1 Oct. 16, 1973Primary ExaminerMilton Buchler Assistant ExaminerGregory W. OConnorAttorney--Jeffers and Rickert [5 7 ABSTRACT The specification disclosesa bow-eye or lifting-eye structure, especially for mounting on a boat,such as at the bow or on the transom at the stern of the boat andwherein the eye structure comprises a U-bolt having the legs threadedwith two nuts on the legs between which a wall of the boat is receivedwhen the eye is mounted thereon and, preferably, with load distributingplates interposed between the nuts and the wall of the boat.

A particular feature of the present invention is to be found in theconstruction of the U-bolt so as to be substantially one and the samediameter from end to end whereby reduced diameter sections that can formbreak off regions when the bolt is stressed are eliminated.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures l mu 111mm PATENTEDIIU 16 ms 3.765.365

FIG 4 INvENToR HERMAN \...G\LLESPIE boat itself.

BOW-EYE OlR LIFTING-EYE, ESPECIALLY FOR MOUNTING ON A BOAT The presentinvention relates to a bow-eye or liftingeye structure, especially formounting on a'boatand is particularly concerned with such an eyestructure which is less subject to failure than corresponding structuresfrom the prior art.

Lifting-eyes or bow-eyes are known which are provided on boats and maybe mounted at the stem or the bow of the boat or at both locat1ons.:l he e y e s mgunted at the stern of the boat are generally mounted on; the transom wall at the extgerne stern of ithe boat'andiare p ye ttaeixiu .MQp rQ bkiQ ig-puriposes, or for pulling a water skl rope, or forlifting the Bow-eye or lifting-eye structures for boats are knownwherein the eye is in the form of aU-bolt with the legs thereof formedto a somewhat smaller diameter than the bent end portion to formshoulders which will abut an escutcheon plate mounted against the wallof the boat through which the legs of the eye extend. Such escutcheonplates are provided because the material from which boats are made isnot suffic'iently liard'to permit the eye to be solidly mounted on theboat without damage occurring to the boat wall. The boat walls, forexample, might be aluminum, wood, or fiber glass, and it is advantageousto provide an escutcheon plate for distributing the load over arelatively wide area of such a surface, as well as for appearance.

Eyes of the nature referred to, according to the prior art, arecharacterized in that the region where the shoulder is disposed on theeye forms a zone of weakness so that when the eye is highly stressed, oris repeat edly stressed, there is a tendency for the bolt to break offin this weakened zone. This has created considerable difficulty and,when an eye' breaks, it is necessary to replace it. Furthermore,expensive an'ddangerous accidents can occur because of such'breakage.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide an improved bow-eye or liftingeye, especially forboats, in which the disadvantages encountered with the prior art areeliminated.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a bow-eye orlifting-eye structure, especially for boats, which is relatively simpleand inexpensive to manufacture but which has improved characteristicsover corresponding structures of the prior art.

The exact nature of the present invention will become more apparent uponreference to the following detailed specification taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a boat, somewhat schematically,with bow-eyes or lifting-eyes mounted on the stern on the transom wallof the boat;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectionindicated by line 22 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view looking in from the right side of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but showing amodified arrangement.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention discloses a bow-eyeor liftingeye structure, especially for boats in the form of a U- boltwhich, in cross section, is of substantially the same diameter from endto end thereby eliminating weakened regions formed by reducing thediameter of the legs to form mounting shoulders on the bolt. A pair ofnuts threaded on each leg of the U-bolt receive a wall of the boattherebetween and, preferably, escutcheon plates are provided between thenuts and the wall of the boat to distribute the clamping load over thematerial of the walls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail,10 somewhat schematically illustrates a boat having a transom wall 12 atthe stern in which are mounted the eyes 14. One or more further eyes canbe provided in the bow of the boat in conventional location but are notillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 will show that the transom wall 12 is provided with through bores16 which receive the legs 18 of the U-bolt forming the eye and whichlegs are joined at the unthreaded ends thereof by the bend portion 20.Each leg has adjustable clamp nuts 22 threaded thereon inside the boatand adjustable abutment nuts 24 threaded thereon externally of the boat.The adjustable nuts 24 advantageously are circular with rounded outercorners so as to present a decorative appearance and, further, arepreferably bright plated forthe sake of corrosion resistance and alsofor the sake of appearance.

A pair of load bearing, or escutcheon, plates 26 are provided which areinterposed between the adjustable nuts 22 and 24 on the respective sidesof transom wall 12. These plates have apertures 28 for receiving thelegs of the U-bolt and these apertures are either spaced apart farenough to permit the escutcheon plates to tilt relative to the length ofthe nut, or the apertures may be provided in the form of elongated slotswhereby the escutcheon plates can tilt to various angles so as to engagethe surface of boat wall in face to face relation while the longitudinalaxis of the U-bolt remains horizontal.

The disclosed arrangement has no weak zones therein because the U-boltis formed of a length of round'stock which is substantially the samediameter from end to end. Furthermore, since the longitudinal axis ofthe U-bolt is horizontal, it will withstand the utmost in pulling loadsimposed thereon. The U-bolt is securely anchored to the boat wall andis, thus, capable of sustaining the weight of the boat when cables areconnected thereto for lifting the boat.

As will be seen in FIG. 4, an inclined boat wall 30 has bores 32therein, only one being shown, for receiving the legs of a U-bolt, onesuch leg being shown at 34. Es-' cutcheon plate members 36 are mountedin face to face engagement with wall 30 on opposite sides thereof and anadjustable clamp nut 38 and an adjustable abutment nut 40 are threadedon leg 34 of the U-bolt. According to the modification of FIG. 4, wedgeshaped or tapered washers 42 are interposed between adjustable nuts 38and 40 and the respective escutcheon plates for transmitting loadsbetween the adjustable nuts and the escutcheon plates. The includedangle between the opposite sides of the washers 42 is the same angle asthe wall 30 makes with the vertical and the longitudinal axis of U-bolt34 is thereby held horizontal and the advantages referred to above arethereby obtained. The FIG. 4 modification represents an improvement withrespect to transmitting loads between the adjustable nuts and the boatwall because of the greater area of distribution of the load over thesurface of the escutcheon plates 36.

Either of the modifications, however, represents a substantialimprovement and advance over the prior art type of eye in which thelongitudinal legs were shouldered so as to present a weakened zone atthe external surface of the boat wall.

Modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A bow-eye or lifting-eye arrangement, especially for boats, and thelike, having a wall with spaced apertures therein; a U-bolt having apair of substantially parallel legs joined at one end by a bend portion,a portion only of said legs being threaded from the free ends thereoftoward said bend portion, said legs and bend portion having the sameuniform diameter from end to end of said U-bolt, an adjustable abutmentnut on each leg, a pair of bearing plates spanning said legs andapertured corresponding to the apertures in the boat wall to receivesaid legs, said apertures in each said plate include at least portionswhich are spaced farther apart than the said legs of said bolt wherebysaid bearing can tilt on said legs so as to engage said wall in face toface relation while the axis of said bolt is substantially horizontal,and an adjustable clamp nut on each leg for clamping said bearing platesagainst the opposite sides of the wall while permitting the bend portionof said U- bolt to extend therefrom to form an eye.

1. A bow-eye or lifting-eye arrangement, especially for boats, and thelike, having a wall with spaced apertures therein; a Ubolt having a pairof substantially parallel legs joined at one end by a bend portion, aportion only of said legs being threaded from the free ends thereoftoward said bend portion, said legs and bend portion having the sameuniform diameter from end to end of said U-bolt, an adjustable abutmentnut on each leg, a pair of bearing plates spanning said legs andapertured corresponding to the apertures in the boat wall to receivesaid legs, said apertures in each said plate include at least portionswhich are spaced farther apart than the said legs of said bolt wherebysaid bearing can tilt on said legs so as to engage said wall in face toface relation while the axis of said bolt is substantially horizontal,and an adjustable clamp nut on each leg for clamping said bearing platesagainst the opposite sides of the wall while permitting the bend portionof said U-bolt to extend therefrom to form an eye.